The former player: 'I really hoped to continue playing'
Warning: This piece contains details of racially offensive comments and behaviour
FormerEngland player Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racial discrimination in rugby union brought his career to an early end.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.
At that time 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to end my career because of what happened," he explained to media outlets.
"I really hoped to carry on playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were investigations going on.
"This situation was challenging - I had to just accept the outcome and accept that this whole process is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but stated it could not gather sufficient proof to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly excluded for their squad for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell revealed to journalists he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him earn 15 caps after his debut in February 2014.
"I have had multiple distressing experiences within England camp," he said.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the issue that I've myself suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a period of time you just learn to think that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell says he was eventually spurred to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."
"We has placed considerable focus on inclusion and inclusion in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.
"We are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the elite level to work for a environment of inclusivity but recognize this requires patience and is an continuous effort."
Every Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face training on creating welcoming environments, with its success tracked via specific documentation and feedback.
All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from damaging conduct.
"You should be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film about his experiences.
"I know it has had this effect on you and finished your playing days, but in our eyes, you have done so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sister passed away recently.
Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in his hometown, maintains his work to make the game more accessible.
His charitable organization aims to reach children in under-served communities and help them thrive both on the field with free sports training, guidance and dietary education.
"My personal intentions are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is willing to tell their experience then I'll persist to advocate for that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he explained.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their own experiences as well.
"I grab the bull by the horns and keep carrying this banner and keep carrying this weight and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly believe that the sport has the ability to change their futures, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
